Polenta Casserole Recipes

OLE POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For polenta, in a small bowl, whisk cornmeal, salt and 1 cup water until smooth. In a large saucepan, bring remaining water to a boil. Add cornmeal mixture, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes. , Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 15 minutes. Divide mixture between 2 greased 8-in. square baking dishes. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1-1/2 hours., In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, mushrooms, herbs and hot pepper sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until thickened., Loosen 1 polenta from sides and bottom of dish; invert onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet and set aside. Spoon half of the meat mixture over the remaining polenta. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheese. Top with reserved polenta and remaining meat mixture., Cover and bake at 350° until heated through, 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, 5 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

POLENTA CHILI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large heavy saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon 15-20 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from sides of pan. , Remove from heat. Stir in 1/4 cup cheddar cheese until melted., Spread into a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes. Meanwhile, heat chili according to package directions. , Spread vegetables over polenta; top with chili. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 12-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish.
• Combine cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic, red wine, and 1/8 teaspoon salt for marinara in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to puree. Set aside.
• Bring water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in polenta slowly, whisking constantly to ensure there are no lumps. Bring back to a boil; reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Pecorino Romano cheese and butter.
• Pour half of the polenta into the prepared casserole dish. Top with half of the sliced zucchini, overlapping slices slightly. Top zucchini with half of the marinara sauce, then sprinkle with half of the Italian-style cheese. Repeat layers one more time. Cover.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until cheese on top is slightly brown, about 10 minutes more. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

CHEESY POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 8x8-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in green pepper, garlic, and green onions; cook until the pepper softens, about 3 minutes. Pour in marinara sauce and simmer 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Mix together fontina and provolone in a bowl. Spread a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange 1/3 of the polenta slices in the dish, top with 1/3 the fontina and provolone mixture. Spread a thin layer of sauce over cheese. Repeat layers twice. Top casserole with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until cheese is bubbly and golden brown, about 25 minutes.

MEATBALL AND POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the polenta: Heat the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the oregano, garlic and onions. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock along with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.
• Slowly add the cornmeal while whisking constantly to avoid clumping. Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir in the cream, ricotta and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside off the heat.
• For the meatballs: Add the beef and pork to a large mixing bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, milk, parsley, eggs, 3/4 cup of the Parmesan, half the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Using clean hands, mix together until well combined. Use a scoop or your hands to form 20 evenly sized meatballs. Set them aside on a plate or baking sheet.
• Add the tomatoes, olive oil, basil, oregano and remaining garlic to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and give everything a quick stir. Transfer the meatballs to the baking dish and bake until browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer the meatballs and any pan juices to a large bowl.
• For the casserole: Transfer the reserved polenta to the baking dish you just used to bake the meatballs. Place the meatballs on top of the polenta, reserving any liquid or tomatoes in the bowl. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan over the top of the casserole and bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 40 minutes.
• When you are just about ready to serve, pour the pan juices into a saucepan and warm over medium heat.
• Sprinkle the casserole with more grated Parmesan and chopped parsley. Serve with the warmed pan sauce on the side.
• Freezer directions: Once the casserole is assembled, do not bake it. Allow the casserole to cool completely and allow the reserved sauce and tomatoes from cooking the meatballs to do the same in a separate container. This will take 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Wrap the casserole in plastic wrap and then foil. Put the sauce in a separate freezer-safe container. Label, date and freeze both until ready to eat.
• To cook, allow both the casserole and sauce to thaw completely in the refrigerator, preferably overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake the unwrapped casserole until bubbly and golden brown, about 40 minutes. Reheat the sauce in a saucepan over medium heat until heated through.

BEEF AND POLENTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 3-quart saucepan, heat milk, broth and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt to boiling over medium heat. Gradually stir in polenta with whisk. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Spread polenta in baking dish.
• In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Remove beef; set aside. Add onion and mushrooms to skillet; cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add spinach; cook 1 minute or until wilted. Stir in beef, pasta sauce and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Spoon mixture over polenta.
• Bake uncovered 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is golden brown. Sprinkle with basil.

BEEFY POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Grease pie plate, 9x1 1/4 inches. Mix cornmeal and cold water in 1-quart saucepan. Stir in boiling water and salt. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth. Spread on bottom and up side of pie plate. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours until completely firm.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Cover cornmeal mixture in pie plate with aluminum foil; bake 30 minutes. Cook beef in 10-inch skillet over medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until brown; drain. Stir in spinach, pasta sauce and marjoram.
• Spoon beef mixture into polenta shell. Cover and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

CHEESY BREAKFAST EGG AND POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees with the rack in the center. Generously butter a 9-by-13-inch pan and set aside.
• Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Gradually whisk in the polenta and salt, and cook, stirring constantly until the polenta bubbles and pulls away from the pan, about 3 minutes. Vigorously stir in the milk, butter and cheese until smooth and creamy. (It will seem loose.)
• Spread the polenta onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Layer with meat, greens or anything else you desire. Use the back of a large spoon to create 8 small wells in the polenta. Crack the eggs inside, sprinkle with Parmesan, and bake 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how set you like your eggs. Let stand for 5 minutes; sprinkle with black pepper and basil and serve warm.

STACKED POLENTA AND MUSHROOM CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat 5 cups of the chicken stock in a saucepot to a low boil; add the polenta and season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring and adding more stock as needed to keep the mixture loose, until thickened and soft, 40 to 45 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the butter, pour the polenta onto nonstick baking sheets (1 large or 2 small), spread into a 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick even layer and cool totally. Cut into rectangular shapes to easily remove for layering.
• Cover the dried porcinis with the remaining 1 cup chicken stock and 1/2 cup water in a small pot; bring to a simmer and cook to reconstitute. Remove the tender mushrooms and chop. Reserve the mushrooms and their liquid.
• Heat the EVOO in a large, deep skillet. Add the fresh mushrooms and cook until dark and tender, about 15 minutes. Add the thyme and shallots, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Deglaze the skillet with the wine. Add the stock and porcinis with some of their liquid (be careful to avoid any grit) and reduce the heat to low.
• To make the bechamel, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepot, add the garlic and swirl a minute or two. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and cook until thickened. Add half of the cheese.
• Place a layer of the polenta in a medium casserole dish and top with half of the mushrooms and bechamel. Repeat the layers, and then end with a layer of polenta. Dot with butter and top with the remaining cheese.
• Cool and store for a make-ahead meal, or bake to serve. Bake at 375 degrees F from room temperature until brown, bubbling and hot through, about 50 minutes.

ITALIAN POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, cook sausage and ground beef on medium-high 5 to 6 minutes or until browned, stirring and breaking up meat with side of spoon. With slotted spoon, transfer meat mixture to medium bowl.
• To same Dutch oven, add onion; cook on medium 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds. Add tomatoes with their puree; heat to boiling on high, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Add eggplant and meat; cover and cook 5 minutes on medium. Uncover and cook 10 minutes longer or until eggplant is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In microwave-safe 4-quart bowl, with wire whisk, combine water, broth, cornmeal, and salt. Microwave on High 15 to 20 minutes or until cornmeal mixture is very thick. After first 5 minutes of cooking, whisk vigorously until smooth (mixture will be lumpy at first); whisk 2 more times during remaining cooking time. Remove from microwave, whisk in Romano.
• Spoon 2 cups hot polenta into each of two 1 1/2-quart shallow casseroles. Spread polenta over bottom and up sides of casseroles. Spoon filling over polenta. Spread remaining polenta around casserole edge to form a rim. Sprinkle with a couple tablespoons additional grated Romano, Parmesan, or Asiago.
• Bake one casserole 30 minutes or until hot. Let stand 10 minutes for easier serving. (Freeze the other one for later.).
• Makes 8 servings (in 2 casserole dishes).
• Note: if you want to lower the fat content, use turkey Italian sausage. Make sure to use quality sausage - I've used my favorite, our freshly made Merguez, and good sausage really makes a difference.

POLENTA SAUSAGE MOZZARELLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook the onions and sausage in olive oil.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large 2 to 3 quart saucepan on medium heat. Add the sliced onion and sausage and saute, stirring often, until the meat is browned.
• Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and fennel seeds to the saute pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato, cover the pan, lower the heat to medium, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Broil the cooked polenta.
• While the sauce is cooking, coat the bottom of a 9x13 inch lasagna or gratin pan (a pan that can handle the heat of a broiler) with a tablespoon of oil.
• Add the cooked polenta or slices to the pan. Coat the top of the polenta with a little more olive oil.
• Broil the polenta about 4 inches from the heating element until golden brown and crispy, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add sauce and mozzarella and broil again.
• Pour sauce over broiled polenta, and then arrange mozarella slices over the top and return the casserole to the broiler.
• Broil until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.